17-3-3731 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-3-3731; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

LOST SALES AND LOST REVENUE SURVEY
CAST IRON SOIL PIPE FITTINGS FROM CHINA
This survey must be received by the Commission by July 27, 2017
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this survey is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in connection
with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning cast iron soil pipe fittings from China (inv. Nos.
701-TA-583 and 731-TA-1381 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the survey is requested under the authority of
the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other
order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information
on this survey can be obtained from Craig Thomsen (202-205-3226, [email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased cast iron soil pipe fittings (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1, 2014?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the survey to the Commission)

YES

(Complete all parts of the survey, and return the entire survey to the Commission)

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: CISPF)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in this survey is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and
understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By submitting this certification
I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the information provided in this survey
and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or similar
merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
investigation or other proceeding may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone

Email address

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on July 13, 2017, by the Cast
Iron Soil Pipe Institute (“CISPI”), Mundelein, IL. Countervailing and antidumping duties may be assessed
on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
(“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. U.S. producers of
cast iron soil pipe fittings have provided the USITC with allegations about sales or revenue that they
have lost due to competition from imports of cast iron soil pipe fittings from China. One or more
domestic producer(s) have named your firm in such an allegation.
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2017/cast_iron_soil_pipe_fittings_china/preliminary.htm
Cast iron soil pipe fittings covered by these investigations are finished and unfinished cast iron soil pipe
fittings (“CISPF”), regardless of industry or proprietary specifications. These are non-malleable iron
castings of various shapes and sizes used in conjunction with cast iron soil pipe in the sanitary and storm
drain, waste, and vent piping of buildings. These fittings include various designs and sizes, consisting of
bends, tees, wyes, traps, drains, and other common or special fittings, with or without side inlets.
CISPF are classified into two major types – hub and spigot and hubless. Hubless pipe and fittings are also
referred to in the plumbing industry as no-hub. CISPF are distinguished from other types of nonmalleable cast iron fittings by the manner in which they are connected to cast iron soil pipe and other
fittings. Hubless cast iron soil pipe and fittings are manufactured without a hub, generally in compliance
with CISPI 301 and/or ASTM A888. The method of joining the pipe and fittings utilizes a metallic shielded
hubless coupling, generally manufactured to CISPI 310 and/or ASTM A 74, that telescopes over the plain
ends of the pipe and fittings and is torqued to seal the joint. Hub and spigot pipe and fittings have hubs
into which the spigot (plain end) of the pipe or fitting is inserted. The joint is sealed with a thermoset
elastomeric gasket or lead and oakum.
CISPF are currently imported under statistical reporting number 7307.11.00.45 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs
purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Reporting of information.-- If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates.
Confidentiality.--The data furnished in response to this survey that reveal the individual operations of
your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the extent that such data are not
otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may be required by law (see 19
U.S.C. 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a manner that will reveal the
individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of numerical business proprietary
information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential business information only at the
request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this survey, as well as
any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in connection
with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative protective order
provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the Commission’s Rules of

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Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and other authorized
individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection with this
proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or similar
merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were divulged to
unauthorized individuals. Please also retain a copy of the final document that you submit.
Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a
single response.

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Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this survey. This
may or may not be the person whose signature is at the bottom of page 1.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
PURCHASE INFORMATION
II-1.

Purchases.--Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of cast iron soil pipe fittings. Please report
separately for your purchases from U.S. producers and importers, and your imports for which
your firm was the importer of record.
“Purchase” – A transaction to buy product from a U.S. corporate entity such as a U.S. producer,
a U.S. distributor, or a U.S. firm that has imported the product.
“Import” – A transaction to buy from a foreign supplier in which your firm is the importer of
record.
2014
Item

2015

2016

Quantity (in short tons)

Purchases of cast iron soil pipe fittings
produced in—
United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of cast iron soil pipe fittings from-China
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries:

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2. Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of cast
iron soil pipe fittings from different sources have changed since January 1, 2014.
Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase

Decreased Increased

Constant

Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States

China

All other
countries
Sources
unknown

3. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase cast iron soil pipe fittings.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

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4. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)
(b)

(c)

Since January 2014, did your firm purchase imports of cast iron soil pipe fittings from
China instead of U.S.-produced cast iron soil pipe fittings
Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))

No
(If “No,” skip to next question)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Yes

(c)

Yes

No

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for purchasing subject
imports rather than domestic product?
If Yes, estimate the quantity of imports
purchased instead of domestic product
since January 2014 (in short tons)

No

If No, please indicate the reason
your firm purchased imports
instead of domestic product

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Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings
5.

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U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2014, in connection with a sale or offer to sell cast iron soil pipe fittings
to your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced cast iron
soil pipe fittings in order to compete with lower-priced imports of cast iron soil pipe
fittings from China?

Yes
(also respond to question part (b))

(b)

No
(If “No,” skip to next question)

Don’t know

If your firm responded “yes,” please provide an estimate of the reduction in U.S.
producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as timing (e.g., months/years),
frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive factors.
Estimated reduction in
U.S. prices
(percent)

Additional explanation, including such information as timing
(e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other
market/competitive factors

%
6. Method of purchase--Please provide a general description of your firm’s method(s) of purchase
(e.g., individual purchase, contract, bids, Internet purchases, etc.) for cast iron soil pipe fittings.

7. Other explanations--Please provide any additional comments in this box.

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OMB INFORMATION
8. OMB statistics.--Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this survey.
Hours

Dollars

The questions in this survey have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that issues of
concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful, and as limited
as possible. Public reporting burden for this survey is estimated to average 4 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the
survey.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for reducing
the burden, and any suggestions for improving this survey. Please attach such comments to your
response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW, Washington, DC 20436.
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2017/cast_iron_soil_pipe_fittings_china/preliminary.htm

HOW TO FILE YOUR SURVEY RESPONSE
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the survey document.
Please submit the completed survey using one of the methods noted below. If your firm
is unable to complete the MS Word survey or cannot use one of the electronic methods
of submission, please contact the Commission for further instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: CISPF

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word survey to [email protected]; include a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents
that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from
unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document Information
System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic algorithms to
encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these
encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized
disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic transmission, the
Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not
by the Commission.
If your firm did not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned copy
to the Commission.